WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The Elon volleyball team snapped a five-match losing streak in impressive fashion with a 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-23) victory at William & Mary, tonight, Oct. 24, in Kaplan Arena.
The Phoenix (16-10, 3-7) saw strong offensive performances from both Sydney Busa and Sydel Curry. Busa tallied her eighth double-double of the season after 18 kills (6.0/set) and 10 digs, while Curry posted her fourth straight and 11th double-double of the year with 42 assists (14.0/set) and 11 digs as she helped the maroon and gold hit .230. On defense, Kayla Agae, who also had two aces, recorded a team-high 14 digs. Elon out-blocked W&M, 10-6, with the help of five blocks from both Ally Karle and Michelle Klein.
The Tribe (8-16, 2-9) saw 10 kills from Alex Stein along with 19 assists and 10 digs from Katie Kemp. Sara Zumbach led the team with 12 digs, while Paige Humphrey posted five total blocks.
How it happened
The Tribe grabbed a 10-6 advantage in the first set before kills by Kam Terry and Busa and a block by Karle and Curry helped the Phoenix to four straight to even the score, 10-all. Three kills by Terry and one by Ebony Scott and Karle moved Elon in front, 15-13, but W&M responded to take a 21-16 lead. Elon would not give up, using kills by Scott and Busa and an Agae ace to close the gap to one, 21-20. Kills by Karle and Busa and a block by Klein and Curry evened the score, 23-all, before a Busa kill capped a 9-3 run to win the set for Elon, 25-23.
With the second set even at 10-all, the maroon and gold went on a 4-0 run off two kills by Klein, one by Busa and another Agae ace to take a 14-10 lead. After a Karle kill kept the Phoenix in front by four, 20-16, a kill by Scott helped move the advantage to five, 23-17. A kill by Busa gave Elon set point as a block by Klein and Curry closed out the set for a Phoenix win, 25-18.
Kills by Busa and Klein and blocks by Karle, Busa and Curry put Elon in front, 8-4, to start the third set. The Tribe responded to tie the score and take the lead, 16-10. With W&M still ahead by six, 20-14, a Busa kill sparked a 10-1 Phoenix run, which was capped by a Klein ace, to put the maroon and gold back in front and reach set point, 24-21. Another kill by Busa made it a 25-23 Elon final and a match sweep.
Notes
Elon moves ahead, 6-4, in the all-time series against William & Mary…The Phoenix swept the Tribe in both meetings this season…Elon has now won five straight over William & Mary, dating back to 2014.
Up Next
The Phoenix returns home to Alumni Gym to host Towson and Delaware next weekend. After a match against the Tigers on Friday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m., Elon plays in its annual Pink Match on Sunday, Oct. 30, at 2 p.m. against the Blue Hens.